Kerri L. Leininger has joined CalPortland as vice president of government relations. Leininger will be located in Washington, D.C., and will monitor and lobby advocacy issues at the state and federal level.
Leininger joins CalPortland after almost 14 years working for the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association where she served as the executive vice president of government and political affairs. In her former position, Leininger focused on industry issues that included building codes, resiliency, transportation, labor and small business.
“Kerri Leininger provides the company with expertise in legislation directly related to the cement and concrete industries. CalPortland looks forward to this opportunity to expand our presence in Washington, D.C.,” said Steven Regis, CalPortland senior vice president corporate services.
During her time at NRMCA, Leininger delivered many legislative victories advancing the ready mixed concrete industry including several key provisions passed in the long-term highway bill Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act. Those provisions include: a permanent exemption for the ready mixed concrete (RMC) industry from the Drivers’ Hours of Service 30-minute break rule, a RMC industry-specific logbook exemption increasing the 12-hour on-duty logging threshold to 14 hours, and increasing the air-miles radius from 50 to 75 air-miles for transportation and delivery of construction materials and equipment to satisfy the current 24-hour restart provision.
Prior to NRMCA, Leininger worked for Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, one of the nation’s largest law firms specializing in healthcare and transportation public policy in Washington, D.C. Leininger has also worked for the offices of former Sen. Mike DeWine (R-Ohio), Sen. Jim Bunning (R-Ky.), Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and U.S. Rep. Ed Whitfield (R-Ky.).
Leininger hails from Kentucky and is a graduate of Eastern Kentucky University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism and applied technology. She spent a semester abroad to study a special topics course on literature at King’s College in London.